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3232Should your company be moving to an MSP for Big Data Analysis services?http://www.painlessguides.com/should-your-company-be-moving-to-an-msp-for-big-data-analysis-services/
Mon, 25 Jul 2016 18:57:20 +0000http://www.painlessguides.com/?p=145What really is big data and if it is possible for your company, who will do it for you. Have you started asking your managed IT asset management solutions provider these questions yet?

]]>Every other big company has been heard talking about big data and so on in the last year or so, is that the key to your company opening new doors of cash flow or is it just for the big guys. What really is big data and if it is possible for your company, who will do it for you. Have you started asking your managed IT asset management solutions provider these questions yet?

BIG DATA ANALYTICS – $50 BILLION DOLLAR MARKET BY 2019

Though the term ‘big data’ is relatively new, the concept is not, and even in the 1950s basic analytics were used to discover relevant trends and insights. As the computing environment has advanced, as well as access to new forms of data through sensors, monitors, IoT applications, and wearables, data analytics has taken on a more prominent role. A few years ago, analytics would have provided information for future decisions,solutions for hardware asset managementbut today businesses can use big data analytics to support immediate decision-making processes.TraceTM Big data analytics in its most recent form allows organizations to work quickly and with agility, promising improved products and services along with reduced costs. Read more…

Everyone seems optimistic about the predictive analysis of the data generated in a company as it grows, but how practical is it really?, well below is an infographic of the healthcare case study applying big data to it.

The applications of big data have just started to unravel before our eyes, others have predicted that using it correctly, we could be on the verge of predicting Terror plots and being yards ahead of the culprits. Taking the issues to the cloud

Could Big Data Play a Key Role in Fighting Terrorism?

With the earth-shattering news that yet another pair of terrorist attacks hit both the United States and France in the past few days, it’s little wonder that people are looking for answers. How do we balance privacy concerns with national security? How are the greatest intelligence apparatuses in the world missing the large-scale patterns and the micro-transactions that signal a future event?…

Creating a National Database of Gun Owners is Critical…

Yes, the Second Amendment is as quintessentially American as baseball and apple pie, but tracking gun ownership in a database is not the same as disarming the populace at large. The entire point behind the more than 23 million background checks performed by the Federal Bureau of Investigations in 2016 was to better identify potential threats, before the completion of a firearm purchase.

While the FBI does perform background checks on gun purchases conducted by individuals and companies that hold a Federal Firearm License, as mandated by the Brady Violence Prevention Act (a.k.a. The Brady Law), there is currently no unified, national database of gun owners. Read more…If it has so broad a spectrum of applicability, shouldn’t your company approach the way you handle data and squeeze as much from it as you can with big data? If you don’t have the talent in your team yet, consider IT outsourcing and see what it can do for you.

]]>5 Things to Avoid in Cyber Incident Responsehttp://www.painlessguides.com/5-things-to-avoid-in-cyber-incident-response/
Mon, 27 Jun 2016 16:08:34 +0000http://www.painlessguides.com/?p=157There are many IT support companies out there who are ready to help businesses get a grasp on these issues.

]]>With the increase of security breaches and network intrusions, dealing with network security has become more challenging than ever before. There are many IT support companies out there who are ready to help businesses get a grasp on these issues. But first, it is important know how to deal with these issues in the best possible way to minimize damage and complicacies.

It is always a good idea to have clear plans when it comes to cyber incidents such as breaches or attacks. To help you get started, here is an article by Steven Chabinsky that talks about the mistakes you can avoid to make your process smooth:

5 Common Mistakes to Avoid in Cyber Incident Response

Network intrusions have become a fact of corporate life. A breach can not only be damaging to a brand’s reputation, but is increasingly factored in as one of the many costs of doing business. The impact of a breach depends upon a number of factors, including what assets are at stake and how quickly the breach is detected, contained, and remediated. Here are some mistakes that if prevented, companies can recover faster and more effectively after an incident.

Avoidable Delays

With the average cost of a data breach totaling $3.8 million, you would expect companies to focus on the proactive detection of threats. Unfortunately, in today’s business world many struggle to efficiently and effectively detect intrusions, assess the extent of the compromise and engage the right level of assistance to remediate the problem. This had led to significant delays in breach detection and a rising remediation costs.

In particular, many businesses lack the necessary tools to perform proactive detection. A tendency to rely on internal personnel to fight fires without the necessary automation and managed response also compounds the challenge. Whether it’s a call to outside legal counsel, a computer incident response firm, a public relations/crisis management company, or all three, potential engagements should be pre-arranged. Contracts should be signed and ready to go, costing your company nothing unless and until you use them, but allowing for quick deployment.

Communicating with the hackers

Many companies that have been breached still use their internal systems to communicate about the incident. Whether it’s documenting a company’s incident response efforts and findings, or emailing others to enlist their help, using compromised systems as a method of communication is a bad idea. After all, unless hackers are removed, they could very well be reading those communications. If all-employee emails relating to an incident are required, such as to change passwords, businesses should consider them as routine IT requests until they are confident the hackers are out.

Pulling the Plug

For many, the first reaction upon spotting a hacker on the network is to pull the computer plug straight out of the wall. Yet, removing the power from a computer not only results in lost volatile memory, (much of which can be critical to a forensic investigation, and should be imaged), but may also lead the intruder to establish other points of entry. Action must be taken immediately to isolate key assets. Businesses should consider limiting remote connectivity or perhaps taking some systems offline. For those systems that continue to allow external network access, it is important to closely monitor Internet entry points to identify hacker activity in outbound network traffic.

Click to read more…The smart move to deal with unexpected incidents and security breaches is to have predefined plans to deal with them as fast and as effectively as possible. Now that you have a better understanding of how to designing your strategies

]]>SMBs to Invest on IT Talents and Emerging Trends To Match Modern Day Needshttp://www.painlessguides.com/smbs-to-invest-on-it-talents-and-emerging-trends-to-match-modern-day-needs/
Mon, 20 Jun 2016 21:48:49 +0000http://www.painlessguides.com/?p=139That means business must find the right people with the right skills to help them make the right IT decisions, or partner up with professional IT consulting Calgary to ensure business IT success.

]]>One of the biggest issues when it comes to dealing with IT for SMBs in Toronto, is the challenge of finding the right IT skillset and IT tools. Technology is evolving so rapidly that falling behind simply means loss of business and competitive edge. That means business must find the right people with the right skills to help them make the right IT decisions, or partner up with professional IT consulting Calgary to ensure business IT success.

In today’s world, the trick to survival is being ahead of the game, and one of current challenges to doing that successfully is finding the right talent for the job. The following article shares more insight:

IT talent biggest roadblock to digital transformation

A global study from IDT, conducted in collaboration with SAP, surveyed 81 executives (65 percent of which identified themselves as CIOs) and found that 80 percent of businesses cite digital transformation as a priority. However, according to the report, only 35 percent of respondents said their business actually had a “clearly defined digital transformation strategy.”

Although digital transformation is important to businesses, companies are still dragging their heels on developing a strategy. One thing that might be holding businesses back the most is hiring, according to a study from The Hackett Group. The study found that for midsized and large businesses, one of the biggest roadblocks with digital transformation has been actually finding and sourcing talent with the right skills.

“Without the right skills in IT and other business units, companies will not understand the possibilities of what can be accomplished through digital transformation and they won’t define a digital transformation strategy,” says Scott Holland, principal, Global Advisory Practice Leader at The Hackett Group.

The skills gap

IDT found that only 17 percent of respondents had enough employees with the right skills to embark on a smooth digital transformation. While, at the same time, The Hackett Group study identified talent as the “most important determinant of IT’s capability to successfully address its key issues,” in relation to digital transformation.

While it is a challenge to find someone who can take of all your IT needs, the other end of the spectrum requires businesses to keep up with the IT itself. By now, technology has proven how much it can simplify work processes as well increase productivity, and it only natural that every business would want to leverage that as much as possible. Check out the article below to know more on how SMBs are predicted to behave in the upcoming days:

69 Percent of SMBs Focus IT Budget on Emerging Tech

Sixty-nine percent of small and medium-sized businesses are devoting part of their IT budget for 2016 to newer and emerging technologies. These include technologies like 3D printers and wearable devices, as well as dashboard and data visualization software applications. The stat comes from a new survey-based whitepaper by technology company Insight Enterprises Inc. (NASDAQ: NSIT).

That figure raises to three in four tech influencers from large companies (74 percent) who are planning to invest in newer, more adaptable technology, and (75 percent) from medium-sized companies, says the Fortune 500 global tech provider of hardware, software, cloud and service solutions for small businesses.

In this whitepaper, small companies are defined as having less than 100 employees, medium companies have 100 to 999 employees, and large companies have 1,000 or more employees.

But Why are So Many Businesses Adding Emerging Tech to their IT Budget?

According to the report, a sizable number of business owners (65 percent) are apprehensive about emerging technology. They are concerned about disruption from technology innovation, such as new devices, applications and software solutions that are hitting the market at an incredible rate. Maybe you are one of those who are truly concerned about the impact new tech will have on your business landscape.

While tech innovations continue to emerge at unprecedented rates, reshaping the business landscape, innovative technology is also becoming increasingly accessible and affordable, says the Arizona-based Insight Enterprises. This accessibility creates more opportunity for growing businesses to revamp their infrastructure and consider how new technologies can be integrated in business via their IT budget.

]]>South African Road to Growth in Managed Services Industryhttp://www.painlessguides.com/south-african-road-to-growth-in-managed-services-industry/
Wed, 08 Jun 2016 09:00:17 +0000http://www.painlessguides.com/?p=129Understanding what the market wants and the type of need that needs to be filled in by reliable it services provide in Baltimore is the answer that would take South Africa at the frontline of the completion.

]]>Managed services have been an area of growth in countries and economies around the global. The developing market of South Africa has reason predict significant growth in this industry in the next five years. Unlike the Toronto managed services industry this strong vision does not come unchallenged. With increasing competition and customer demands, South Africa is facing the greatest challenge that comes in the way with their ambition to be a dominant power in managed services. To overcome the challenge, researchers were set in place to afford knowledge that would put the South African market in its best position to change the game. Understanding what the market wants and the type of need that needs to be filled in by reliable it services provide in Baltimore is the answer that would take South Africa at the frontline of the completion.

Managed Services is a vague term that sparks debates in attempts to break down its real meaning. Parts of business processes are being sold and contracts have been put in place to acquire them day in and day out. The real sector specializing on Managed Services can be difficult to pinpoint. Managed services, unlike outsourcing, only focusses on selling parts of business processes that are considered non-core. Managed services providers do not do the actual process but they provide services to support and maintain the free flow of these processes.

When one allocates the entire IT infrastructure to a single vendor this becomes a perfect picture of outsourcing. In a managed services deal only a fraction of the process is delegated and the nature of the function is to support the main tasks. The rapid growth and expansion of managed services provider is owed to the stronger client and vendor relationship made possible by the limited processes in a managed services deal.

The South African market, in its aim to be an international mover in IT Managed Services sparked interests in market research surrounding the subject. Firms like Frost and Sullivan were lured to provide a new light in understanding consumer demands and expectations for Managed Services Providers. Six Managed Services service areas became the subject of their research. The study was conducted in eight key industries in South Africa.

With a head office located in Mountain View, California, Frost and Sullivan is a leading research form providing the international market with valuable information. Their areas of focus are market research and growth strategy consulting. Being in operation for over 40 years it is at its best position to also offer corporate trainings to other companies.

The South African market is ever changing. It has does done an excellent job in adapting to the changes by continually evolving itself. It is also an ambitious market that provides a platform for new innovation in business and technology to be put into place. Although the South African market had its own share of ups and downs, it cannot be denied that their contribution to international market research, specifically in the Information Technology sector has been significant.

]]>Xerox Listed as Top Managed Workflow Services on IDC MakertScape Reporthttp://www.painlessguides.com/xerox-listed-top-managed-workflow-services-idc-makertscape-report/
Mon, 06 Jun 2016 20:32:33 +0000http://www.painlessguides.com/?p=124Managed IT services provider companies will likely be interested in some big news about Xerox and its recent appearance on the IDC MarketScape Report. The new report lists Xerox as the top company in various regions. They include Central/Eastern Europe, and Middle East, and Africa. This represents major news for the company.

]]>Managed IT services provider companies will likely be interested in some big news about Xerox and its recent appearance on the IDC MarketScape Report. The new report lists Xerox as the top company in various regions. They include Central/Eastern Europe, and Middle East, and Africa. This represents major news for the company.

The report centers on the Managed Workflow Service (MWS) industry in a section of Xerox’s Developing Market Operations known as CEMA. The analyst company defines as a group of services that automate/optimize vertical/horizontal document-focused workflows/business processes.

Xerox has been in business for several decades, which provides it with an edge over many competing companies. The company’s offerings aid its clients in keeping away from bottlenecks involving document management, as well as inefficiencies that could arise. In addition, new releases of solutions for personal productivity via Xerox DocuShare and Xerox Digital Alternatives boost office efficiency by making document processing an automated process.

This helps to provide help for workers from manual process that take a lot of time. They include annotating, sharing, securing, and storing both documents as well as data. The bottom line is that such tools will definitely help workers to become more efficient, which is certainly an important matter in today’s workplaces.

Mike Feldman is president of Xerox’s Large Enterprise Operations. He said that companies’ use of managed workflow services as well as BPO technologies is increasingly quickly in the CEMA region. This has had major benefits to various enterprise organizations. Those benefits are far past lowering print as well as saving funds.

Feldman shared that Xerox’s solutions can aid companies in saving time, meeting their various goals for sustainability, and improving the experience of customers. They include various solutions including making employee productivity better, making process workflows automated, and increasing document/data security. These are all major ways that companies can benefit from the various solutions provided by Xerox.

There are various highlights mentioned in the report that focus on the strengths of Xerox. These are certainly worth mentioning. The company has a very big customer base. It also has tech and partnerships that can help move customers to high-level print/document management. That includes the issue of workflow automation.

Another benefit is providing a full range of services including BPO, workflow automation, and managed print services. There are various others including ability to increase cross-market solutions portfolio via purchases and collaborations with software partners and BPO organizations.

Xerox also has a partnered program and training/certification programs that are structured and defined well. They boost skills, make interaction for multi-regional and worldwide accounts simpler to interact with, and provide more consistency.

The latest IDC MarketScape report shows Xerox’s commitment to leadership in terms of making businesses’ workflow better. That includes making daily business processes automated in order to increase productivity/profitability in the workplace. This shows Xerox’s continued commitment in the world of managed It services. In addition, it will help the company to maintain its edge in the future in a crowded sector, which is key for the tech giant to stay completive.

]]>Mobilizing your Computer Repair Shop to an IT Providerhttp://www.painlessguides.com/mobilizing-your-computer-repair-shop-to-an-it-provider/
Mon, 06 Jun 2016 16:32:25 +0000http://www.painlessguides.com/?p=132Computer asset inventory management software have been all over the world and it is the best thing that could ever happen when you own a laptop and you need to have it fixed. But computer shop owners should know that you can actually expand your business in a wide perspective. You need to focus your plans if you want to mobilize for the enhancement of your business.

]]>Computer asset inventory management software have been all over the world and it is the best thing that could ever happen when you own a laptop and you need to have it fixed. But computer shop owners should know that you can actually expand your business in a wide perspective. You need to focus your plans if you want to mobilize for the enhancement of your business. Yes! You can upgrade if you are knowledgeable to create a team of your own. A team that can be of good benefit to your business as well as to reach out to a more future business partners and costumers. Engaging a computer repair can be very challenging as you will endeavor to a greater experience in your field of being a repair shop to a larger scale of being an IT provider. You have to find ways for you to develop a good working environment of IT team. The preparation of your budget should be evaluated and should also be a long term goal as this will lead you to a much better journey. This can skyrocket your business from a smaller scale to becoming may be one of the leading businesses. The growth of your business will be your success as you deliver a more quality service.

The tendency of computer repair shops is that your clients will somehow ask you certain questions in regards to computer services and that is ironic in your part but because you are client oriented it is also important that you answer to avoid loosing clients. As you become a good entrepreneur, there are certain areas that you need to understand in terms of mobilizing your business into a higher ground. It is important that you assess your level of expertise as this will be the source of maintaining your growing business. Having to collaborate with a business partner will do good also if you are not that capable yet at handling such expertise, or perhaps hiring an IT expert. As you are hiring for a team it is important that they are knowledgeable in the field and not just the basic necessities. You are mobilizing and the faster your pace, it is essential that your teams are productive. Most computer repair shops have only a small working space, you must consider the fact that moving to a wider working space can motivate you to grasps more opportunities. You can eventually choose what type of IT provider you want for your business. In most cases some people starts off as hardware system provider. Having to have a financial advisor is a good way to help you lay out with your plans and discuss your long term goals. Create and plan for a strategically as to how you will run your business is the most crucial thing to do. Now that you have moved forward from a being a computer repair shop to an IT provider it is vital that your focus is mainly on the TraceTM Your hard work can guarantee you to a successful business.

]]>5 Types of Website Content that Increase Businesshttp://www.painlessguides.com/5-types-website-content-increase-business/
Wed, 25 May 2016 15:23:42 +0000http://www.painlessguides.com/?p=501. How-to articles are very popular online, and adding articles like this to any website can go a long way towards increasing business. The goal should be to get people actually coming to a website for accountants. If the how-to articles relate to the goods or services that the website distributes, the people who make it […]

]]>1. How-to articles are very popular online, and adding articles like this to any website can go a long way towards increasing business. The goal should be to get people actually coming to a website for accountants. If the how-to articles relate to the goods or services that the website distributes, the people who make it to the website may become enthusiastic customers. People often conduct Internet searches in the first place because they’re trying to learn how to do something, and the websites that are able to get them there in the first place can make a huge difference for them.

2. Often times, the only part of the content that really matters is content that has a catchy enough title, which is often going to be reflected by the subject of the content. Content that is called ‘click-bait’ has a tendency to draw more people than content that is actually useful but isn’t especially catchy. Choosing a subject that is provocative in any way and then topping it off with a title that is worthy of such provocative content is going to be more effective than almost anything else that all businesses can share. People might recognize this trick in action, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re going to avoid falling for it.

3. Articles that are more or less designed to be shared are that much more likely to actually be shared. Articles designed for the sake of ‘share-ability’ will be passed around accordingly in many cases. One of the reasons why a lot of quizzes tend to go viral is the simple fact that they have to be conducted with other people, even if the people involved are doing them in a way that is very tongue-in- cheek. Businesses that are selling much more formal products may have a harder time developing content that actually needs to be shared. However, if there is any way that they can add some incentive that is built-in and that will convince people to actually share web content, they’re going to find that the content is that much more successful.

4. Articles that have any sort of list component are vastly more likely to be shared, accessed, and viewed in the first place. People like to read lists, which are easy to digest and which will give them a lot of information quickly. There are list generators online that have more or less made countless amounts of money in ad revenue just by making lists. Businesses that are able to frame any content in a list format are still very likely to succeed.

5. Articles that are full of the relevant keywords. While keyword stuffing does not work anymore, if it ever did work to begin with, people can still get ahead through articles that are full with the keywords that they need for their business. The keywords will manage to get people accessing certain web content in the first place, and if the content is well-written, it’s going to keep them there.